The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-06

low will be found liberal synorse, o
such discourses ~ were obtainable uE
to q late hour last evening, and MANI
more would have been Published
could they have been secured from
the pastors:
LindeB Street Christian Church.
Mr.. Briney discussed the qualfica
tons necessary to Membership in tbs
Church Of Christ. As the church, eaiC
the speaker, rests on spiritual foun
dalton and is OF spiritual nature, 81
the qualifications essential TO member
ship therein are spiritual in theil
nature. Al members of the church
are regarded by the Scriptures a.
stones, not from the standpoint Of
length, breadth and thickness, but
from that of moral and spiritual char,
soteristics. The mat srials composing
this spiritual house are characterize I'd
as "living stones" They are possess ID
of spiritual life. The possession Of
mere physical life does not qualify one
for membership in the CHURCH of
Christ. He must have spiritual life
also.
A person is not entitled to member.
ship because he is 30 many feet and
inches long, nor because he weighs so
many pounds sverdupos, nor be-
cause he is OF special complexion,
nor because he belongs to certain
nation, nor because he was born OF
particular parents; but because he is
possessed of certain spiritual qualifcs.
lions clearly presented in the word OF
God. Here is where the Jews make
one OF their great mistakes. They
supposed themselves to be entitled to
citizenship in Messish's kingdom be.
cause they were children of Abraham
and belonged 10 the ratio of Israel.
Many OF them made this mistake
when they demanded baptism at the
hands OF john, but he gave them to
understand that they had no right to
this institution on any such grounds.
Being child Of Abraham, or Of a ~
parentags whatever, c1nfers no right
to the institutions OF the q spell upon
anyone; and hence those who made
this demand of John were iniofmsd
that they must repent" and come to
baptism on the ground Of spiritual
qualifications.
Nicodemus was laboring under the
same mistake when he sought that
nocturnal interview with the Savior.
He was member Ct the Jewish in.
sttution and q teacher therein, and
on account OF these things he though.
himself qualified for place and posi-
ton in the Kingdom Of Christ. But
the Teacher informed him that, 80 far
was his jewish birth from emitting
him to citizenship in His Kingdom,
he must be born again. And the
Savior makes this very general. "Ex-
cept anyone (lis) be born again he can.
not see the Kingdom Of God" No
odds If one is born OF believing or nm.
believing Jewish, Christian or PAGAN
parents, he must be born again if he
would enter into ChIist's Kingdom.
Just at this point the DIFF ference be.
tween the Jewish and Chri tian insti.
tuti9ns Genes out. A person. born OF
jewish parents or bought with Jewish
morey was entitled 10 membership in
the former, and had to be clrcumcised.
Every such peuon belonged to that
institution, even if be did rot know
the Lord, as neither the infant eight
days old nor the new bought pagan
did. All such had TO be taught, as
members, 10 know the Lord. Not 30,
however, ss regards the Onrislisn
eCor omy. Here the case is wholly
different. A new Dir h is necessary,
and one that involves a knowledge Of
the Lord, upon which everyone must
enter into this new institution. The
old covenant, as we havd Just seen,
provided that persons having no
kno " edge f the Lord, and even in
capable of such knowledge, should rs
ceive the CT acter site institution OF
thaticoyensnt, and afierwardIbe train, d
to know the Lord. But God promised
TO make a new covenant that would
move on a different plane alto
geIher. Behold, the days come,
saith the Lord, thet l will
make q new covenant with the houte
OF Israel and with the house OF Judah,
not according to the covenant that |
made with their fathers.
For this is the covenant that will |
make with the house OF Israsl after
those days saith the Lord; l will put
my laws into their mind, and on their |
heart also will l write them.
And they shall not teach every man ,
his fellow citizen, and every man his
brother, saying know the Lord. For
hey shall all know me, fiom the least
70 the greatest Of them" The great
Inference between the operations OF
this new covenant and the old one is
manifest. That provided that persons
having no knowledge of the Lord
'hould be brought into the institution
ouDded upon it aud taught after
ward. But this provides that all shall
Do first taught to know the Lord and
'ittrSard brought into the new insli-
ution, or the Church Of Christ, 30
hat the Lord can say Of them, "rhey
VI know me, from the least to the
greatest OF them"
We tHd the Sav;or's teaching in per-
ect harmony with this idea, $50 ye
herefoIe," said he, land teach all
Nations, baptiziDg them in the name
. 'AOiS anu VI bhb DOby nhu VI ,
he Holy Spirit" UDder the old
ovensnt they were to circumcise and
ben teach but under the new they !
re first to teach and then baptizs, go
hat no one conducted into the King
Iom OF Christ might need to be taught
o know the Lord. Itisquite evident
rom this that the qualifications tIr
nel1bership in the Church OF Christ
INVOLVE certain kind and degree OF !
knowledge. Another version OF the I
commission pu's it thus: "PreIch the
ospel to every creature. He that ,
and lie bApt zed shall be 4
aved." This enables US 10 see that {
FachlDg and preaching are used in Z
erGhsngeably. 1t also ena lies US to |
IGderetand to what extent one must ]
70 taught before baptism. He must {
70 taught Till he believes 10 Christ, or !
elieves the Gospel.
1t follows from this that one OF the !
ssential qualifications for member
hip In the Church Of Christ is faith
? Coris', or belief of the gospel
iere Is good plaza to direct aten' [
ION to the difFaranca n tWeen the (